As we commemorate International Women's Day, it is crucial to take stock of progress and outstanding challenges that confront women and girls and rededicate ourselves to making a difference in their lives.

Kenya is too important to fail. The government knows it, and so donor governments. So its dependence on foreign aid will also continue. Let us hope that Kenya does not become part of the African Confederation of Failed States.

At the international level, if those who promote and organize atrocities on both side of a conflict are not subject to accountability, the message of impunity to the citizens of that country undermines the establishment of a peaceful and well-functioning society.

All their outrage seems to be focused on the national and racial identities of the powerful men accused -- and none focused on the hideous crimes these men are accused of committing against powerless victims. Why aren't we hearing more voices in support of the African victims of these atrocities?

I was thankful to witness this collective courage of a country to take a bold step from its past experiences. It filled me with a sense of hope that Africa's march to democracy has entered a new phase.

Uhuru Kenyatta's disputed election to the presidency of Kenya earlier this month raises a host of questions regarding its legality, Kenyatta's indictment at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and whether Kenya will become isolated as a result.

Kenya still can't close the lid on its presidential election: challenger Raila Odinga petitioned the Supreme Court Saturday to invalidate the tally that showed him losing to Uhuru Kenyatta by some 800,000 votes.

There has been a sea change in the mindsets of ordinary Kenyans that in large part is the result of government reforms and transformation of its media. We are heartened that Kenya's next election is unlikely to provoke the extreme levels of ethnic violence that followed the last contest.